Reading order
How to Read Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass has two big reader questions: where to place The Assassin's Blade and whether to tandem read Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn. This page gives you the practical routes.
Recommended first-read order
- Throne of Glass recap
- Crown of Midnight recap
- The Assassin's Blade recap
- Heir of Fire recap
- Queen of Shadows recap
- Empire of Storms recap ending explained
- Tower of Dawn recap
- Kingdom of Ash recap ending explained
Where to put The Assassin's Blade
For emotional impact, many readers place The Assassin's Blade after Crown of Midnight, once Celaena's past matters more. Chronological readers can start with it, but the opening momentum is often stronger if you begin with Throne of Glass itself.
If you already know you love prequels, read it first. If you want the series to hook you quickly, read books one and two first, then go back.
Do you need the tandem read?
No. The Empire of Storms and Tower of Dawn tandem read is popular because the timelines overlap and one book ends on a brutal cliffhanger. But publication order is cleaner and less fussy for most first-time readers. Use the tandem only if you enjoy managing chapter checklists.
Reader FAQ
Is Throne of Glass more fantasy or romance?
It becomes more epic fantasy as it grows, with several important romantic arcs rather than one simple romance-first structure.
Can I skip Tower of Dawn?
No. Tower of Dawn contains character, healing, political, and worldbuilding material that matters before Kingdom of Ash.
Where should I go after finishing?
Try The War of Lost Hearts for completed epic romantic fantasy, ACOTAR for more romance-forward Maas, or Crescent City for urban fantasy scale.